Oluwo commends FG, security agencies over rescue of Oriire teachers, pupils

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has commended the Federal Government and security agencies for rescuing the teachers and pupils abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, saying their efforts give hope that Nigeria can overcome its security challenges.

The victims were abducted on May 15 after armed men invaded three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, killing an assistant headmaster, Mr. Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist before whisking away pupils, students and teachers. One of the abducted teachers was later killed in captivity.

In a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, the monarch described banditry and kidnapping as unacceptable in Yorubaland, insisting that such crimes would never thrive in the region because of the determination of the Yoruba people to resist criminality.

He stressed that Yorubaland is resilient and unconducive to kidnappers and bandits, urging the perpetrators of the Oriire attack to retreat, repent or leave the region to avoid harsher consequences from the Yoruba people.

Oba Akanbi said, “In history, no war, including banditry, has ever succeeded in Yorubaland. The last time they tried it, they were checkmated and stopped in Osogbo. Banditry and kidnapping can never survive in Yorubaland. The perpetrators of the Oriire kidnapping in Oyo State should retreat, repent or vacate Yorubaland. Kidnapping can never thrive on our soil”.

The traditional ruler, however, urged politicians to stop politicising insecurity, saying national security and unity should be placed above political interests.

“The dignity of human lives lost to insecurity in Nigeria should not be subjected to political sentiment by politicians. It saddens me to read reports of politicians politicising insecurity. It is a clear demonstration of political immaturity, insensitivity and political banditry. Most of those politicising insecurity are political bandits,” he said.

Oba Akanbi called on politicians across all political parties to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the fight against insecurity, noting that no nation has overcome insecurity without the cooperation of all stakeholders, including the opposition.